Rebuild Lakeshore

I was reading John Bunyan this morning and the following passage struck me as very helpful. Bunyan explains that in time of suffering and pain, God grants us sweet grace that we would not otherwise taste if it were not for the bitterness of our affliction. He writes:

There is also a patience of hope; a rejoicing in hope, when we are in tribulation, that is, over and above that which we have when we are at ease and quiet. That also that all graces can endure, and triumph over, shall not be known, but when, and as we are in a state of affliction. Now these acts of our graces are of that worth and esteem with God, also he so much delighteth in them: that occasion through his righteous judgment, must be ministered for them to shew their beauty, and what bravery there is in them.

It is also to be considered that those acts of our graces, that cannot be put forth, or shew themselves in their splendour, but when we Christianly suffer, will yield such fruit to those whose trials call them to exercise, that will, in the day of God, abound to their comfort, and tend to their perfection in glory (1 Peter 1:7; 2 Cor 4:17).

Why then should we think that our innocent lives will exempt us from sufferings, or that troubles shall do us such harm? For verily it is for our present and future good that our God doth send them upon us. I count therefore, that such things are necessary for the health of our souls, as bodily pains and labour are for [the health of the body.

Alas! we have need of those bitter pills, at which we so winch and shuck: and it will be well if at last we be purged as we should thereby… I see that I still have need of these trials; and if God will by these judge me as he judges his saints, that I may not be condemned with the world, I will cry, Grace, grace for ever.

– John Bunyan in Seasonable Counsel; or Advice to Sufferers (1684)

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Folks from across the country have demonstrated incredible willingness to aid in our on going disaster relief on the gulf coast. A group of high school students added innovation to their generosity with a robot Tech Valley Exhibition fund raiser in collaboration with other schools. Their themed event “Making a Difference” raised money to contribute to the Rebuild Lakeshore efforts. Check out the Team 20 website and one of their youtube videos. On behalf of everyone in our community, we want to publicly thank the robotics teams for their great work.

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This week, our hard working friends from Providence Baptist Church, Franklin MA moved lumber to several locations. We plan to frame up another new house on this site in the near future.

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A couple of days ago, Tim Chalies posted a blog entry on “Giving to the needy,” where he quotes from a forthcoming book, “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. Chan writes:

A while back I had a free evening, so I decided to go to the store and buy some items to give away to those who needed them more than I do. It was a good idea, something I want my life to be characterized by more and more.

But it was embarrassing.

I realized that everyone I knew had enough, that I didn’t know many people who were truly in need, and that I need to change that. I needed to go and intentionally meet people who don’t live like I do or think like I do, people who could never repay me. For their sake but for my own as well.

I remember a time that I could have echoed his words; that I really do not know anyone in serious need of anything. God has brought me to a place in my life where that no longer applies. I spend every day with people at the bottom. Hurricane Katrina took all their possessions, uprooted their lives, and left them grasping to stay afloat. Building materials, clothing, school supplies, food, clean drinking water, baby formula, furniture, bedding, transportation, you name it; people in Lakeshore need it.

God’s gracious hand of provision allows me to begin meeting a dizzying array of these needs. We see 2,500 or so registered families come through our distribution center. Through the hard work of volunteers we have rehabbed over 100 flooded homes in our community. We have begun working on the 29th house built completely from the ground up. With all that, I still feel the overwhelming reality that over 4000 families still live in temporary housing in our county. For many, nothing more than a camper provides them shelter. Those living in FEMA provided housing know that in a matter of days or weeks this option will dry up, leaving them completely homeless once again. Some folks have come by the church asking for tents to live in. The need remains great.

You can check out our list of needs, plan a mission trip to Lakeshore, or make a donation to the ongoing ministry of mercy God has granted us on the gulf coast.

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While I attended the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville KY, my friend Mike Corley, preached in Lakeshore and put together a great radio show covering his trip to the coast. Check out “The voices, sounds and blessings from Lakeshore.”

Mike also reported on his blog in a post entitled, “Thank God for the faithfulness of Lakeshore:”

“As I listened to those who lived through the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, their spirit of gratitude was obvious. It was also obvious that the shock of the tragedy and the pain of loss were just as real today, almost three years later, than it was on that day in August of 2005. However the evidence of the sufficiency of the grace of our sovereign Lord eclipsed all of the hurt, and through the ministry of Lakeshore Baptist Church, and others, God continues to make Himself known.”

Thanks Mike.

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The day before I left for my trip, a great team from Kentucky began framing the Boyd House. I returned to a fully framed house, with windows doors, roof, and wrap. The Boyds could not be more grateful. This weekend a couple of men from Texas came in to wire the house and finished yesterday afternoon.

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As I often say, I can only report on such a small fraction of all the work god continues to accomplish here in Lakeshore through the generous hands of volunteers from across the country that he continues to send our way. We praise God for the teams that worked here last month, including:

• Alva BSU – Alva, OK
• Castle Woods Baptist Church – Brandon, MS
• Chetek Alliance Church – Chetek, WI
• Crown Heights Baptist Church – Woodward, OK
• Derma Baptist Church – Derma, MS
• Edgewater Christian Fellowship – Grants Pass, OR
• First Family Church – Akeny, IA
• First Baptist Church – Alva, OK
• First Baptist Church – Arnett, OK
• First Baptist Church – Laverne, OK
• First Baptist Church – Meridian, MS
• First Baptist Church – Mooreland, OK
• First Baptist Church – Pelham, AL
• First Baptist Church – Shuttuck, OK
• First Baptist Church – Woodward, OK
• Grace Heritage Church – Auburn, AL
• Green River Baptist Church – Waynesborough, TN
• Harmony Baptist Church – New Albany, MS
• Heartland Community Church – Overland Park, KS
• Kansas University “Alternative Breaks” Group – Lawrence, KS
• LaCrosse Baptist Church – LaCrosse, FL
• Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church – Woodward, OK
• South Persimmon Baptist Church – Sharon, OK
• Trinity Baptist Church – Mentor, OH

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This coming Tuesday my wife and I will fly to San Francisco where I’ve been invited to speak at the 2008 West Coast Reformed Baptist Pastors Conference hosted by our friends at the Livermore Reformed Baptist Church. Check out their Lakeshore mission trip report. I’ve been asked to speak on God in the Storm and Mercy Ministry in the Local Church.

I’ll then fly to Louisville KY and preach at the Immanuel Baptist Church on Sunday April 13. I’m looking forward to meeting up with some of my good friends there, especially Doug Thorpe and Kristy Miller who have both made numerous and extended trips to Lakeshore.

Then later that week, I’ll stay in Louisville for the Together for the Gospel conference. I’m excited to hear seven of my favorite preachers, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney, Albert Mohler, John MacArthur, John Piper, and R.C. Sproul. I know that several Lakeshore mission trip veterans also plan to attend, so if you will be there, please let me know and perhaps we can get together.

On Wednesday night, April 9, my friend Mike Corley will preach in Lakeshore to our nearly 200 volunteers from North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Mike hosts a great syndicated talk radio show. Check out the Mike Corley Program - “Radio that’s not ashamed of the gospel.” You can listen to him online. He may also be on the radio in your area. If not, call your local station and request it. He plans to broadcast live from Lakeshore on Wednesday April 9.

On Sunday, April 13, Stacy Morgan will preach at Lakeshore in my absence. While I have not met Stacy, he comes highly recommended by our friend Dale Crawford of Trinity Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.

April 16, my friend, Eddie Exposito, will preach in Lakeshore on Wednesday night. Eddie serves as pastor of Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Slidell LA. All three of these men maintain a solid theology and a strong passion for expositional preaching. While I do not relinquish the pulpit often, I trust that God will speak through his word and these men as they proclaim the gospel with boldness, clarity, and compassion in Lakeshore.

I’ll return home on Thursday April 17. This 10 day trip will be the longest I’ve been away from Lakeshore since the storm. I have to admit that I’m a little anxious about going. so much work remains in Lakeshore, but God has blessed me with some wonderful folks who will hold down the fort (or I guess I should say, build up the fort) while I’m away. I’m going to miss seeing the great teams that plan to work in Lakeshore next week. i pray that God will bless the work of their hands as he continues to rebuild Lakeshore for his glory.

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